Deng, Hughes break out as Bulls hold off Wizards

Dec 7, 2008 - 5:31 AM
CHICAGO (Ticker) -- For most of the season, the Chicago Bulls
have had to lean heavily on the backcourt duo of Derrick Rose
and Ben Gordon. Any production from elsewhere has been a luxury
rather than an expectation.

But that wasn't the case Saturday, as the Bulls got
contributions from everywhere en route to a 117-110 victory over
the Washington Wizards.

"It's a good win, but we are still a work in progress," Bulls
head coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Tonight, we moved the ball
better than we have the last two games."

Chicago snapped its two-game winning streak, but perhaps more
importantly finally saw signs of life out of some of its most
disappointing players.

Luol Deng - who the club infamously refused to part with last
summer when feeling out a potential trade for Kobe Bryant - has
been mired in a slump for most of the season. But he broke out
with his second strong performance in a row, pouring in 25
points on 11-of-18 shooting. He came into the game hitting just
41 percent of his field-goal attempts but has posted 46 points
over his last two contests.

"I wasn't really less aggressive in the past, I was slowed down
by some nagging injuries but now I am feeling better," Deng
said. "Now I am taking the open shot when it is there."

Meanwhile, top reserves Larry Hughes and Andres Nocioni broke
out as well. Hughes - who has battled injuries and
inconsistency this year - collected 24 points and five assists,
burying five 3-pointers to lead Chicago's bench.

"Larry Hughes was fantastic tonight the way he shot the ball,"
Del Negro said. "He has also been one of our better defenders.
I am happy with how he played and what he contributed; his years
in the league really showed."

Nocioni had not reached double figures since November 19 but
chipped in with 16 points and connected three times from the
arc. He was also the catalyst for arguably the game's most
decisive sequence, sparking a surge late in the third quarter
with a 3-pointer that set off a 19-4 run.

The 6-7 Argentinian added a layup moments later and capped off
the run with another 3-pointer to extend the Bulls' lead to
88-72.

"They went small and we went small and that really worked out
for us," Deng said. "The guys we had on the floor all stepped
up and made their shots."

"We have to do a better job guarding the perimeter; we gave up a
lot of threes tonight," Wizards guard DeShawn Stephenson said.
"The third quarter has been our downfall the whole season and
it's frustrating."

After falling behind by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, the
Wizards climbed back into it with a 13-3 run. Caron Butler
sparked the surge with a 22-footer and Juan Dixon connected from
the arc.

Darius Songaila capped the spurt with a 3-pointer to cut
Washington's deficit to 105-100. But Hughes had the answer on
the other end, burying from the arc to extend the Bulls' lead
back to eight.

"Our game plan was to find the open man and share the ball,"
Hughes said. "That's a good plan, but you also have to make
your shots. Sometimes even if you are open, you are not going
to get the ball in the hole."

Rose registered 15 points and eight assists for the Bulls, while
Gordon added 21 and seven.

"Sometimes you have to give the other guys the credit,"
Washington interim coach Ed Tapscott said. "The Bulls played
well and we ran out of energy, the third quarter was really
decisive."

Butler led the Wizards with 27 points, eight boards and six
assists.

"This is a tough situation," Butler said. "I haven't been in
this type of situation in any part of my career. It seemed like
we gave a lot of energy and effort and we still can't get wins
at the end of the game."